From January 1st 2017: What’s new about implementing import – export goods supervision at HCMC sea port?

Customs office at Saigon area 3 Customs Branch supervised cargo shipment via camera system. Photo: Thu Hòa

In order to implement Article 41 of Customs Law and Decision 1500/QD-GDC of the General Department of Customs about Customs supervision for import and export goods which are taken into custody and transferred to the Customs supervision area in the seaports, HCMC Customs Department are aggressively implementing the schedule as planned.

According to Deputy Director of HCMC Customs Department, Mr. Dinh Ngoc Thang, for the official deployment in two major ports (Cat Lai and VICT) in January 1^st 2017, from now till the end of December 2016, Saigon port area 1 Customs Branch and Saigon ports area 3 Customs Branch will coordinate with port enterprises to test the operation steps. The other port Customs Branches (except the Saigon port area 2 Customs Branch is temporarily postponed because goods are mainly in bulk and are planned for relocation) will be completed and officially implemented in March 1^st 2017 at the latest.

Mr. Le Thanh Hai, Deputy Manager of Saigon Port area 1 Customs Branch said that, following the instruction of the leaders of HCMC Customs Department, the Customs Branch has collaborated with Saigon Newport Corporation for preparation. In that, the establishment of a working group implementing Article 41 of the Customs Law is: Manager and Deputy Manager in charge of the Supervision Unit and Head of Supervision unit, some Customs officers of Procedure Team, the Supervision team and Customs officials of Software applications of Customs Branch. At the same time, collaborating with port enterprises to arrange a working place in accordance with the Single window model, have a unit to receive and process the work and suggest solutions for information exchange when dealing with incidents.

Saigon Newport Corporation has built software systems for exchange data between the Saigon Newport Corporation and the General Department of Customs; fully equipped host computers to connect to the information technology system of the General Department of Customs. At the same time, the Saigon Newport Corporation has installed lines. As the result of testing, the data exchange system between the Saigon Newport Corporation and the General Department of Customs has been upgraded to achieve efficient performance, there are no digital signature errors, only some errors in data exchange. With proactive preparation, the Saigon Newport Corporation has adequately prepared for the information technology system to apply Article 41 of the Customs Law in Tan Cang - Cat Lai from January 1^st 2017.

Similarly, at VICT port, Saigon ports area 3 Customs Branch and enterprises have prepared the steps to run the tests before officially running the system on January 1^st 2017. Mr. Nguyen Dung, Deputy Manager of Saigon port area 3 Customs Branch said that, according to the schedule of HCMC Customs Department, on December 20^th 2016, the unit ran a testing program. However, currently, the preparatory works of the Customs Branch and enterprises are nearly complete and waiting for the support of Customs officials from Customs IT and Statistics Department, Customs Control and Supervision Department - General Department of Customs to implement the next steps. For the port enterprises, they are very supportive and want the program to be applied in time according to the schedule. The enterprises which coordinate with the Customs Branch in the areas have prepared and reviewed their difficulties before deployment; during the test, it will be carried out two parallel processes until formal implementation; ensuring all requirements.

For the rest of the ports, enterprises will actively develop a specific implementation plan, the latest on March 31, 2017, it must be completed and formally implemented. Leaders of HCMC Customs Department also noted the enterprises that, due to the deployment time falling into periods before and after the Lunar New Year, units should pay attention to build the appropriate plans to ensure clearance of goods are run smoothly. Closely coordinate with the Customs Branch in geographical management, Customs IT and Statistics Department to solve the arising problems related to engineering, design, connection systems, processes and handle business affairs in accordance with regulations.